Museo di Palazzo Reale GenoaVisit a Royal palace from Genoa's Golden Age

Palazzo Reale in Genoa is a Royal palace from Genoa’s Golden Age, when aristocratic families like the Balbi family, who constructed the palace, enjoyed tremendous wealth. In fact, Palazzo Reale is found on the via Balbi; in the early 1600s the family petitioned the Senate for permission to build their street and the many palazzi you still see along it today.

Designed to be a family residence called Palazzo della Corona, the construction in the early 15th century was supervised by Stefano Balbi and Gio Francesco Balbi II. In 1677 the Balbis sold the palace in 1677 to the Durazzo family, who enlarged it. In 1930 the Royal Palace passed to the Ministero della Publica Instruzione, who turned it into the State Museum it remains today.

The museum is a bargain at a standard entrance price of €4. But for the cash-strapped tourist, a walk down the Via Balbi with a short stop at the Palazzo Reale to see the inner courtyard pictured on the upper right is a pleasure you can enjoy for free. The black and white pebble mosaic you see in the foreground of the picture represents a Ligurian tradition. Turn around and you’ll get an elevated view of Genoa’s port.

The flash flooding that has wreaked havoc on much of Liguria, parts of northern Tuscany, and southern France, struck Genoa hard on Nov 4. Six people were killed. Parts of the city along streams and rivers were underwater and the clean up continued for days.

Apricale, one of the Western Riviera’s celebrated “Rock Villages,” has been around since the Bronze Age. Its Latin name (Apricus) means “sun-washed,” and, as you find out in warm weather, is all too apt. Some of the buildings in Apricale are 9th century, probably, but documents only go back to 1016. So, to be fair, villagers humbly look forward to celebrating a 1,000th anniversary soon.